Benderson Park in running for NCAA women's rowing

The University of Central Florida's womens rowing team practices on Lake Pickett in east Orlando. The UCF team held a practice scrimmage against the University of Michigan at Nathan Benderson Park in February. Central Florida will co-host the NCAA National Championships if the bid is awarded to Nathan Benderson Park.

Published: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 5:05 p.m.

Nathan Benderson Park is padding the years leading up to the 2017 World Rowing Championships with elite national and international events, including vying to host the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Rowing Championships as early as next year.

The University of Central Florida's womens rowing team practices on Lake Pickett in east Orlando. The UCF team held a practice scrimmage against the University of Michigan at Nathan Benderson Park in February. Central Florida will co-host the NCAA National Championships if the bid is awarded to Nathan Benderson Park.

Photo provided by UCF Athletics

Facts

UCF CONNECTION

This is not the first time the University of Central Florida has partnered with Southwest Florida groups.UCF recently announced a partnership with the Bradenton Area Convention Center and Visitors Bureau. UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management also is developing an ambassador program with Manatee County to keep hotel, restaurant and attraction owners updated on the latest trends in the tourism industry and encourage them to join trade associations and mentor students.The partnership began in May.

Officials with the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association, the nonprofit group in charge of operations at the park, submitted bids to host the NCAA Rowing Championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017, said Paul Blackketter, SANCA's chief operating officer.

Those bids combined with a strong partnership with the University of Central Florida's rowing team could bring the NCAA women's rowing championship to Southwest Florida as early as next year, he said.

"To host the NCAA National Championships, which is a women's rowing event, would attract the biggest universities across the United States to Benderson Park," Blackketter said.

While the NCAA Rowing Championships won't draw 42,000 athletes and spectators and millions in economic impact over 10 days like the world championships, the nationally televised event would further cement Benderson Park's status as a top rowing destination.

The NCAA Rowing Championship is a women's event for Division 1, 2 and 3 schools. More than 1,000 athletes from universities such as Stanford, Brown and Princeton, among others from the 11 conferences, attend each year.

An NCAA event must be hosted by a university or a competing conference. UCF was chosen as the school to host for the Benderson Park bid because of its large program and proximity to Southwest Florida, Blackketter said.

"We've developed a very close relationship with the UCF coaching staff," he said. "Their program is large and reputable, and they've helped support the facility since the beginning. It's a perfect fit."

The University of South Florida, the closest state school to Benderson Park, does not have a NCAA division team.

"If USF had a team, that of course would be the university we would have reached out to first," said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency.

2-year run for venues

Becky Cramer, head coach of UCF's women's team, visited Benderson Park before it was a full 2,000-meter course in Dec. 2010.

"I can still remember all the mud," Cramer said. "But then Paul showed us the renderings and video of what they wanted it to look like."

The UCF team hosted a practice scrimmage against the University of Michigan at Benderson Park in February.

The school also has been involved in the planning for the 2017 World Rowing Championships, and will offer their lake facility in East Orlando to international competing teams for practice.

"We're still a very young team but the idea of hosting the NCAA championship in our home state is pretty exciting," Cramer said.

The UCF crew is made up of 82 rowers on varsity and novice teams. The school last won its conference and attended the NCAA championship in 2007.

"We're pushing to win our conference again and have the championship in Florida," she said.

The venue for the top-tier event for women's collegiate rowing can change every year, but historically has been selected for two-year stints. The 2013 NCAA Championships were held at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis this year, and that also is the site of the 2014 NCAA event, despite inclement weather that capsized some sculls during the 2013 gathering.

"Weather and storms are an issue, but not as much as one would think," Cramer said. "Florida in late May is open to storms, but look at what happened in Indy just this year."

UCF hosted the NCAA events in 1998 and 2001, but not in Florida. The championship took place in Gainesville, Ga.

Small event, big schools

Benderson Park submitted its bids along with Manatee County's IMG Sports Academy, which also bid for several other NCAA sporting events, Haley said.

"The NCAA Rowing Championships is one of the smaller NCAA events, but it will bring big schools to the region," she said.

A successful NCAA Rowing Championship also could open the doors to hosting an Intercollegiate Rowing Association championship — the men's equivalent in the sport of rowing.

"We've already had talks with people from IRA. It's all a matter of timing and interest in getting them here," Blackketter said.

"This is all part of the plan to make Benderson Park a rowing destination."

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